35\9 Jeminghaia Faldoni and Teresa University of California Southern Regional Library Facility THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES 'A "N 'ssriDDjXg .- — ^ > F A L D O N I AND TERESA. By Mr. JERNINGHAM. Is IT IN Heav'n a Crime to Love too well? Pope. L O N D G ^5 : PRINTED FOR J. ROBSON, BOOKSELLER, NEW BOND-STREET. M DCC LXXJII. '^ ADVERTISEMENT. The following poem is founded on a very fingular Event that happened near Lyons in the month of June 1770-^Two Lovers (Faldoni and Teresa Meunier) meeting \vkh an invincible obflacle to their union* determined to put an end to their exiftence with pillols. The place they chofe for the execution of their terrible projed: was a chapel that ftood at a little diftance from the houfe. They even decorated the altar for the occafion : they alfo paid a particular attention to their own drefs : Teres a. was dreffed in white, with rofe- coloured Ribbands : The fame coloured Ribbands were tied to the piftols. Each held the Ribband that was faflened to the other's trigger, which they drew at a fignal agreed upon. * Arria and Patus (%s Monfieur de Voltaire) fet the example, but * then it muft be confidered they were condemned to death by a tyrant, * whereas love was the only inventor and perpetrator of the deed we have * recorded— See ^lejlions fur L^Eiicychpedie, Articles De caton et defuicide — *• See alfo a b^^ok entitled Les Tableaux by the Marquis de Pezai. 865126 FALDONI AND TERESA TO you, ye Cons of France, the Mufe appeals, To vouch the truth of what flie now reveals: Say, have ye not beheld what love can dare, When torn with grief, and prompted by defpair. Still urg'd by pity ye bewail their doom, 5 Still to the traveller ye mark the tomb. Where fleep, from tyrant laws, and forrows free, The youtliful vi(flims of their own decree. All-ruling Love, the God of Youth, pofTefs'd Entire dominion of Faldoni's breaft: 10 An equal flame did fympathy impart, (A flame deftrudive) to Teresa's heart: B AS ( 2 ) As on one ftem two opening flowers refpirc. So grew their life (entwin'd) on one defirc; Yet left their hopes parental power fliould blaft, 15 Still o'er their love her veil Concealment caft: Near to the manfion, on a fecret fpot, (Meet haunt for lovers) rofe a fylvan grot: True to the ftated moment ftill they came. Here breath'd the vow, here fed the mutual flame; 2° Here form'd to lift'ning Heaven the firm refolve, Which power, nor fate averfe, ihou'd e'er dillblve : This grot the confident of ev'ry fear, Thi« kind recefs that bofom'd ev'ry tear. Where oft the impaflion'd foul they did affuage, 25 Urg'd by a warmth congenial to their age. Still they devoted to the pow'r above. And fondly call'd the Temple of tlieir Love. Once as they haften'd to this flill retreat, The mutual objea: of their wifli to meet, 30 Faldoni fawthe beauteous maid diftrefs'd. Her check, with terror and alarm impreft : Saw ( 3 ) Saw rals'd to Heav'n her fupplicating eyes. As if to deprecate the vengeful fkies : * Ahfpeak (he cried) with anxious wonder fraught, 35 * What undivided care employs thy thought ?' In accents fuited to the ftrain of woe, Teresa thus indulg'd her thoughts to flow : * The cloud, which long has threaten'd to deftroy, * With rage redoubled burfls upon our joy: 40 * Ev'n thro' the friendly veil Concealment wove. There are who mark'd the progrefs of our love ; * To pity dead, and Nature's ftronger claim, * A father— Whence does he ufurp that name ? * Ah had thine eyes beheld the cruel fcene, 45- ^ As with indignant and tremendous mien, * While to his mercy kneeling I applied, ' With barb'rous hand he flung me from his flde, * And bad me — Oh infenfible of heart ! * Far from his angry prefence to depart, 50 Unlefs— Can I pronounce his dread demand ? 1 wou'd from tliee withdraw this plighted hand : ' Behold ( 4 ) * Behold me baniQ:i'(i from my native liome, < To thee a haplels fugitive I come, ' Bent to the ground beneath Misfortune's fhowV, 55 ' Afflid ion's bride, a father's curfe my dow'r : * Yet why complain ! ftill happy in thy love. What more can earth beftow, or Heaven above ? « \\r ' "For this are daughters born, (Faldoni cried) ■' To fall the vidims of parental pride '• 60 * When nature, youth, and fympathy unite, ' Say, Hiall a father's voice forbid the rite ? * Shall he, with cruel and relentlefs hands, ' O'erthrow the altar ? tear the nuptial bands ? ^ But thou with love and virtue fhall combine, 65 * To break the law that bids thee not be mine : ' Still {hall the lov'd Teresa be my bride : * Not Fortune's gifts to which thou art allied, * In my attachment claim'd their venal part, ,« I fouo-ht v/hat love requires, a tender heart : 70 ' Tho' wreck'd, defpoil'd, of Fortune's golden flore, ' Rich only in thy heart, I prize thee more. With ( 5 ) • * With me afcend yon Alpincan height, * Let Italy's bright fun illume our flight, * There, haply there, at our difaftrous tale, yi- * In fome kind breaft compafTion may prevail ! ' In vain for bufy apprehenfion ftill * Alarms my love, and traverfcs my will : * Worn with the labours of the length 'ning way, * Should'ft thou fink down to wearinefs a prey : go * If in that moment, by thy father led, ' Of Ruffians thou fliould'fl hear the thund'ring tread, * What wou'd my rage, by love impell'd, avail, ' If, as the coward numbers fhou'd prevail, * (Thou moft ador'd, thou blcfl with every charm) Sc * They flill Ihou'd tear thee from this vanquiih'd arm * Not all their cruelty (the fair rejoin'd) * Shall ever boaft a conqucft o'er my mind, * Ne'er fliall they wrell this heart. Ml uncontrol'd, * From Conf^ancy's embrace, and Paffion's hold: oo * If to the law that bids me not be thine, « One more fevere, a father, fhou'd adjoin, C 'To ( e ) * To refcue flill my foul from that diftrefsa A thought, enbofom'd in this heart's recefs, < Shou'd, rifing into aft— Ah fpare the reft !— 95 ' Say can't thy fancy my refolve fuggcft ?— * This poniard — * Greatly thought fthe youth reply'd) ' Be bolder ftill, and let my voice decide : * The ills to come, why tremblingly await ? 100 * Ah rather meet inevitable fate ! * Let us, fmcc life, with foul and haggard mien, * Holds to our wifhes but a defert fcene, ' To Death's dread region urge our daring way, ' And quit the afpeft of the living day. 105 ' I give ((he cry'd) this breaft, 'tis thine, to bleed. Ah more than give, I glory in the deed : « Unfold the means— the inftruments prepare- All, all that daring Love can do, I dare. *Thc ( 7 ) The youth rejoln'd : * When o'er the filent world 1 1 o *■ The hand of Darknefs has her veil unfurl'd : * "When thro' her mid career the Night has run, * Shall, warranted by Love, a deed be done, ' Which not the records of Diftrefs can fliow, * Thro' the long page of love-created woe ; n^ * The iiicred wall of this fequefter'd fpot, * That's doom'd to witnefs our unhappy lot, < Shall (an eternal monument) proclaim * AfFeclion's triumph, and parental fliame. * Ev'n to the tomb, where forrow fliall repofe, 120 * Where Pity's hand our afhes Ihall enclofe, * Her num'rous train pofterity fhall lead, * And to her children thus unfold the deed : * Here {hallow d fpot) Loves martyrs rejl fecure > ' Ah 1 ivhaf they fufferd may ye ne'er endure : ' But why to vain difcourfe thus idly give * The precious moments — wliile I talk we live.' The ftatcd hour at length approaching near, Th' unhappy youth beheld, devoid of fear : Sec ( 8 ) Sc« to the grot the faithful maid repair, 1 30 Prepar'd to a6t the counfcl of defpair. With eager arms he ftrain'd her to his bread:. And thus the purpofc of his foul exprcfs'd. ' Sec rear'd by me yon facrcd altar flanda, ' Adorn'd with lights, and drefs'd with flow'rybandi: 135 * See near the crofs (in filken chains array'd) * The ready inftruments of Death difplay'd : ' Nor pale regret, nor doubt, the coward's train, * Shall dare the orgies of this night profane : * But intrepidity, that life difdains, 140 ' And breaks, 0h Prejudice ! thy pow'rful chains : * With Confidence, that lifts her raptur'dcyc, ' To meet the future bleflings of the (ky, * And chearfulnefs, white-vefled as a bride, 4 With blue-cy'd Pleafure walking at her fide, 14^; • Delightful band ! fliall to yon altar move, t T© celebrate the feiHval of Love. ' But fay, Teresa, do thcfe eyes miflead ? « Or doft thou tremble at the hallow'd deed ? * Yes, ( 9 ) * Yes, treach'rous fear, thy troubled afped pales, 150 * Ah lofl Faldoni ! thy companion fails : * Wil't thou, departing from thy firfl defign, * Submit to live ? yet will I not repine : * Shall at my voice that beauty ceafe to bloom ? * And does my love condemn thee to the tomb ? 155 * Shal't thou in flow'r of youth refign thy life. And fmile in death to be Faldoni's wife ? * The bafe, th'ungen'rous willi I now difown, ' Faldoni adls the tragic fcene alone : ' In pity leave me to my own defpair, 160 « Nor ftay to witnefs what thou mult not fliare : . * Return thy prefence my refolve difarms, * Return and blefs an aged father's arms : * Tell him the youth, by beauty's charm beguil'd, * Who taught rebellion to hk only child, 1 65 * Urg'd by that fatal pafTion is no more, ' Slain by his hand, and welt'ring in his gore ! ' Oh ! dire refolve, (the heart-pierc'd mourner cries) * Joy finks for ever when Faldoni dies : D * Yet, ( lO ) ' Yet, yet refleft reverfe the cruel doom — 170 ' Still let me fnatch thee from the youthful tomb : * There faithful Love refigns his facred fires,- ' Remembrance fickens, and bright hope expires. In vain (he added) life unfolds her charms * While flie with-holds thee from thefe widow'd arms : 1 7 5 ' Depriv'd of thee the world's a defert fhore, * Round which the furges beat and tempefis roar: ' 'Tis wifdom then to launch into the main, * And feek the clime where happier feafons reign : * Enough may length of days and joy be thine, 180 ' Let truth, let conllancy, and death be mine.' The fair, Indignant faid ' Too hafty youth> ' He who fufpefts firft breaks the law of truth ! * Did not this bofom, firft by pafiion taught, ' Conceive, unprompted, the intrepid thought ? 185 ' Did not this voice firft fpeak the bold decree, ' To pcrifti rather than be falfe to thee ? * Mark ( " ) * Mark how thefe hands havedeck'd this little form, * To grace the rites I'm deftin'd to perform; * Behold me now impatient, felf- decreed, 190 * The gaudy vidim at Love's Hirine to bleed. * Thou glory of thy fex, (the youth replied) * O'erwhelm'd and loft in paffion's rufliing tide, ' My fcnfe was drown'd now to thy merit juft, * Ev'n to thy courage, as thy love I truft. 195 * That courage welcomes (fpoke the beauteous maid) * This terror-ihedding fcene, for death array'd : ' Yet then Religion adts her rigid part, * Forbear fhe cries, and damps the boldeft heart : * Methinksl view wide op'ning at my feet, 200 ' Form'd by an angry God, the direful feat : * Now, now I hear infernal voices call, * And from the gulph fiends beckon us to fall : * Ev'n as I haften'd to this blefs'd retreat, * The vow that love had witncfs'd to compleat, 205 The ( 12 ) ' The dnrken'd air fent forth a voice unknown, * That fliriek a my name— the foreil breath'd a groan— ' Ill-omen'd birds acrofs my paflage flew, * And frighten'd Nature fliudder'd at my view. ' To airy nothing give (the youth rejoin'd) 210 ' From whence they fprung, thefe fpeftres of the mind : * Ah ! know meek homage can that God affuage, ' And turn to clemency awaken'd rage : * What he the mofl requires, thou can 'ft impart, ■' 'Tis Virtue's offering, an unfpottcd heart. " 215 ' Let us implore liim at yon altar's bafe, ' Tohleis our deed with his abfolving grace : * Which as the fun, whofe vivifying ray, *. Gilds the dark cloud that wou'd obfcure the day, ' Will gild within the dark'ning thoughts that roll, 220 ' And beautify the purpofe of our foul : * Then fliall the hofl of faints at Virtue's call, ' Behold our aft, and confccrate our fall.' He fpoke when guided by a rage divine, Th'enthufiafl led her to the facred fhrine : 225 Then ( 13 ) Then, as their bended knee the ground Imprefs'd, He thus aloud the throne of grace addrefs'd : ' Thou who did'il: form our mutual hearts to glow, * With all the feelings that the tender know, * Behold us by a parent's voice with-held, 230 * From rites connubial, and from joy expell'd : * Free of remorfc, the guilty feel, we die, * To thee from woes and tyrant-laws we fly : Ah from our fears remove thy vengeful rod, ' And be at once our Father and our God.' 235 Now, on the fair, Faldoni caft his eye. While half-fupprefs'd arofe compaffion's ligh : ' Prepare (he faid) the tragic fcene to clofe, ' And fhun the fate that iron-hearts impofe : ' Yet, when I think, if flcrn parental pow'r 240 * Had to our wiflies giv'n the nuptial hour, * Life might have wlng'd its way fupremely blefl:, * By fortune favour'd, and by love careft : * Ah wonder not thefe tears unbidden flow, * That round thy form thefe arms encircling growj 245 E ' That ( H ) ' That not ev'n Wifdom's di(n:ates can control, * The grief that harrows up my bleeding foul. * Yet will I not too lavifhly complain, * A future world may recompencc our pain. ' Ah ! in that world fhou'd we, too bleft, rejoin, 250 * No f\uher there rtiall traverfe Love's dcfign : * Thee to my hope fhou'd fav'ring Heav'n beftow, * Ah ! let us love as we have lov'd below. * Tho' flatt'ring Hope {flic faid) inform your brealt * This bofom owns not fuch a welcome gueft : 255 * I'ho' Paffion's torch illume the path we tread, * Drear is the paffage to the filent dead. : * Yet not the lefs do I confent to fleer * Thro' this tremendous fea of doubt and fear : ' The dread omnifcient pow'r, who rules above, 260 * Still fees my fears fubjedled to my love. ' I go — whate'er that pow'r fhall now ordain, ' To view thy blifs, or to divide thy pain. Lo near the inflruments of death they fland ! To which they reach a bold determin'd hand : 265 Oh ( K1 ) * Oh unexampled fair (Fai.doni fald) To life's pale confines by thy lover led, 'Think not thefe engines deftin'd to deftroy. Ah rather deem them hallow'd keys of joy ! ' Whofe magic povv'r, to fcreen from future woes, 270 Eternity's bright portal fliall unclofe! Then fliall Teresa from each care releas'd ' 'Mid angels take her radiant feat'— He ceas'd. ' Yet ere (fte cried) we meet th' impending doom. Yet ftre we fmk into th' untimely tomb, 27c « Let me, reclining on that tender heart, * The farewell accents of my love impart: ' — Methinks we ftand beneath Death's hov'ring pall * Pafs one fhort moment and we both muft fall : * One moment— and dire ruin fliall deface, 280 < Sent from this thund'ringtube, each living grace; * That form, which ftill I view, fnall know decav. ' And all that beauty be the grave-worm's prey: * Diftradting thought — Who fpoke the dread command ? * Who with this fiery weapon arm'd this hand?— 285 * Bern ( I6 ) * Born by the torrent of diftrefs away, * My loft affliaed thoughts from reafon ftray : * Forgive this weaknefs— worthy ftill of thee ' I'm ftlU prepar'd to fall at Love's decree. See now Faldoni drav/ afide the vcft, 290 And to the fight reveal his naked brcaft : As if, impatient to embrace his fate, He griev'd one inftant had prolong'd his date : This fcene the firmnefs of her mind appalls And all her wonted tcndernefs recalls. 295 * Is it for me that breaft with blood to flain « And pierce that heart with agoniKing pain ? * That feeling heart— where ev'ry virtue glows .* ' Where I poffcfs the rank that love beftows ? * The voice of Nature fure forbids the deed : 300 * Ne'er fliall Faldoni by this engine bleed, ' On me, on me it now fhall ad: its part, * (She faid) and boldly held it to her heart. Fal- ( '7 ) Faldoni fwiftly fclz'cl her daring hand. And fpoke— 'Ah what has thy diftradlion plann'd ? 305 * The iiicred plan, that Love ordain'd, recall : * Slain by each other's willing arm to fall. * Now heav'n mcthinks with our refolve confpires, ' And o'er yon tapers flieds the pureft fires : * Gives to yon twining wreaths a brighter bloom 310 * And o'er the cenfor breaths divine perfume : * While, myflic emblems of eternal day, * Above the altar lambent glories play. * She added ' faithful to thy juft demand, * I'll now diredt this death-entrufted hand : 315 ' And now at length I take the parting view, * Ah ! now thefe lips pronounce the lafl: adieu : ' Faldoni, Oh my treafure ! Oh m.y pride ! * In life, in love, in death to me allied ! * May faints prepare, the garland for thy brow — 320 * Farewell to yonder confcious flirine I vow, ' This voice which faintly pours its clofin'* fcrain, * Shall never utter thy fond name again.' F They ( "8 ) They now approach to give the fatal wound, While trembling Expedlation hovers round : 325 One folemn moment they referve to pray'r. And now the dire explofion rends the air, They fall- and. to the awful pow'r above, Refign the tortur'd foul of hopelefs love. Unhappy viaims ! tho' cold reafon hear, 330 Your mournful ftory with unheeding ear : Tho' pious zealots at your death exclaim. Still facred Pity confecrates your name : Ev'n flern Religion as ilie fees you bleed. Lets fall a tear, and half-abfolves the deed, 3.^5 FINIS. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which It was borrowed. 'S ANGE! 3 115£ rr.VS,;,,'3>ifl.'>' '•' D OOC I